1 6 LLOYD'S NATURAL HISTORY. 



yellowish white, terminated by a black band; the chest and 

 upper breast pale buff, spotted with black ; and the back pale 

 rufous-buff, thickly barred with black. Total length, 13 

 inches; wing, 8'6 ; tail, 4; tarsus, 1. 



Range. — This species has a wide range, being found in 

 North Africa, Southern Europe, and South-western and 

 Central Asia. In the west it extends to the Canary Islands, 

 in the east to North-west India, while northwards it occurs 

 in the Kirghiz Steppes and Dzungaria, and southwards in 

 the Sahara. 



Habits. — This extremely handsome bird is only a cold- 

 weather visitant to India, but during the coldest months 

 of the year, is generally to be met with in enormous flocks 

 where sandy plains stretch far and wide, and water is within 

 easy distance. Their habits generally resemble those uf the 

 rest of their kind, and they feed, go to the water, and rest at 

 mid-day, in the same way. In parts of the country, where rivers 

 are far distant, they repair morning and evening to drink at 

 such tanks as have not dried up with the approach of hot 

 weather, and by hiding near such spots, it is not difficult to 

 procure large numbers as they come and go. This species is 

 not known to breed in India, but, to the west, it has been found 

 nesting on the lower plateaux at elevations of from four. to 

 seven thousand feet. 



Nest. — A slight depression in the soil. 



Eggs. — Three in number ; light stone-colour or buff, mar- 

 bled with purple-grey shell-markings, and light brown surface 

 blotches. Size, 1*85 to 2 inches by 1*3 to 1-35. 



II. THE BRIDLED SAND-GROUSE. PTEROCLES DECORATUS. 



Pterochs decoratus, Cabanis, J. f. O. 1868, p. 413, and 1870, 

 pi. iii. ; Ogilvie-Grant, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxii. p. 21 



(1893). 



Adult Male. — Size small. Belly black, most of the feathers 



